Please select your home edition
Edition

Robbie Langford wins RYA North East eSailing Club Championships

by RYA North East 20 May 2020 10:50 UTC
Robbie Langford's port flyer as 'Captain Rob' in the RYA North East eSailing Club Championships © Paula Irish

Kielder Water SC's Robbie Langford will be competing for national honours in the RYA eSailing Spring Club Championships after claiming the North East title.

Ten of the region's finest e-racers represented their sailing clubs to battle it out on Virtual Regatta on Saturday 16th May 2020 and the top four places were decided on countback after an incredibly close finish.

After five races, with two discards, Robbie's scoreline of 3, 1, (4), 2, (8) was just enough in the final reckoning to take the title from Tynemouth SC's Justin Smith, who counted a trio of second places to likewise finish on six points nett.

Third overall just a point further back was Sunderland YC's Danny Boatman with Derwent Reservoir SC's Simon Weatherspoon in fourth, also with seven points, with these two likewise only separated on countback.

The event was streamed live on Facebook @RYANorthEast with live commentary from RYA Keelboat Development Manager Jack Fenwick, giving supporters a chance to tune in and cheer on their club!

Commenting afterwards, Robbie said: "It's been amazing, when you get a load of high quality racers on this game it's really thrilling. It was so tight, I know the positions were changing constantly and I'm really pleased to have just snuck into first place. Very happy!"

The 20-year-old engineering student is now looking forward to representing Kielder Water SC and the RYA North East region in the national final of the Musto-sponsored RYA eSailing Spring Club Championships, which will take place on Saturday 30th May 2020.

Race strategy

On the water, Robbie is race captain for Sheffield University Sailing Club, whose team qualified for the BUCS Team Racing Finals in 2019 and again this year.

Explaining his strategy as 'Captain Rob' for the virtual racing of the North East RYA eSailing Spring Club Championships, he said: "Going into the first race I just wanted to have a safe race and not do anything too stupid, and kind of suss out who the good guys were to beat. Once I knew that I could focus on making sure I was staying ahead of certain people, which was swaying which way I'd go on upwind legs and so on, and also making sure I kept finishing in top positions."

First beats were key and Robbie pulled off one of the most memorable starts of the event with a last second spinnaker drop and port flyer in race four.

Asked about his decision-making heading into the first leg of each race, he said: "I'm always before the start looking at where the wind might have shifted and what the shifts have been like before the start, seeing if it's quite consistent or if it seems to be blowing around.

"I'll check if the port end is higher and then I can maybe start at the port end, depending on the wind shifts and what the wind direction is, and I'll also be looking up the course, seeing which areas of water look like they've got a bit of wind coming down on them - you can tell quite a lot from that I feel. You can sail into some nice windy patches if you play your game right."

Tough competition

Second-placed Tynemouth SC's Justin Smith said: "Every race seemed to have quite shifty wind conditions which could make or break someone's race. I managed to make a lot of positions by picking some good shifts on both the upwind and downwind legs.

"Best manoeuvre I have ever seen was pulled off by Robbie when he started a race on port at the port end with the spinnaker flying, dropping the spinnaker with less than a second to go and crossing in front of the fleet on port. It can be seen on the video on the RYA North East Facebook page (at 17 minutes). I was the blue boat closest to him. It was a bold move."

Simon Weatherspoon, who just missed out the podium having led the championship early on with a bullet followed by a hat-trick of third places, added: "Although I was happy with how I came back from some tough spots, I wish I had gone for some riskier starts in later races. In hindsight, two discards meant that we could afford to have a bad race and I think I was too conservative in my game plan.

"Ultimately, I needed either another 1st or a 2nd to win overall. That being said, it was a great experience and so close between the top four! The last race in particular, when me and Danny went right and the others went left, was very tense because the wind could have gone either way, but went left. Unfortunately it just wasn't my day. But congratulations to Robbie, who I grew up sailing with in zone squad, coached by the brilliant Martin Boatman. It was great to see Danny Boatman carrying on the family name and keeping everybody on their toes. Overall a brilliant day, thanks to the RYA and everybody involved in making it a great event."

RYA North East Regional Development Officer Sam Usher said: "It was incredibly tight racing and a really exciting event for all the competitors and for everyone watching. Well done to all the competitors and to Robbie on claiming the title as the region's champion - good luck in the finals!"

Find out more about eSailing and RYA events held as part of the #SailFromHome programme here: www.rya.org.uk/Pages/virtual-regatta.aspx

Overall Results:

PosHelmPts
1Robbie Langford6
2Justin Smith6
3Danny Boatman7
4Simon Watherspoon7
5Charlie Warhurst9
6Adam Corry13
7Ian Turrell15
8Andy Benn17.5
9Giles Gray19
10Ben Whitehead20

Related Articles

Marine Auctions: June online auctions
Bidding to open on Friday 20th June The Bidding for the June Online Auction will commence on Thursday 20th June and will end on Thursday 26th June at 2pm AEST. Posted on 7 Jun
Bulwarks and Bulldust – watch Episode Five
Episode Five - Shane Subichin, The Boat Works - is now up and running Watch along as we speak with Shane Subichin, GM at The Boat Works about his life from tinnies on Sydney Harbour to leading the team at the premier refit and maintenance yard on the Gold Coast. Posted on 6 Jun
New Formula 360 Crossover Bowrider
An exciting new generation of Formula dayboats has arrived An exciting new generation of Formula dayboats has arrived with the upcoming debut of the all-new Formula 360 Crossover Bowrider. Posted on 5 Jun
Michael Rybovich & Sons construction updates
Progress on hulls from 84', 62' down to 42' New construction updates of 70' S/F Hull # 9, 42' S/F hull #10, 75' S/F hull #11, 84' S/F - Hull # 12. Posted on 5 Jun
A very clear video for overhead casting
Stop fly casting 10-2 and start using this method for longer casts Lyall and Nathan have spoken to me often of how to advance beyond the clock face 10-2 using the terms translation before rotation. Posted on 4 Jun
Valhalla 55 Sport Yacht - Ready to ride
Making her highly anticipated debut in Atlantic City The Valhalla 55 Sport Yacht makes her highly anticipated debut in Atlantic City, New Jersey – and it's more than a new model. Posted on 4 Jun
NOAA reduces Atlantic bluefin tuna retention limit
The adjusted limits will take effect June 3, 2025 and extend through December 31, 2025 On May 29, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) announced adjustments to the Atlantic bluefin tuna daily retention limits for recreational anglers. Posted on 3 Jun
Delegation urges state control of red snapper
Expressing "strong support for a state-led framework to ensure science-based stewardship" South Carolina's congressional delegation, led by Congressman Russell Fry and joined by U.S. Senators, formally urged U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick to transfer management of the South Atlantic snapper-grouper fishery to the states. Posted on 2 Jun
Bayliss Boatworks new construction updates
Big Deal's final touches are coming together beautifully Gearing up for her christening later this month, Big Deal's final touches are coming together beautifully. Posted on 2 Jun
Bulwarks and Bulldust – watch Episode Four
Episode Four - Mark Elkington, The Yacht Sales Co. - is now up and running Watch along as we speak with Mark Elkington from The Yacht Sales Co. about his transition from a West Australian crayfisherman to a global sales and support organisation par excellence. Posted on 30 May